Anti-static rayon oils



United States Patent ice ANTI-STATIC RAYON OILS John Marshall Hood,Riverside, Conn., assignor to American Cyanamid Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Application August 29, 1952,Serial No. 307,157

3 Claims. (Cl. 252-8.7)

This invention relates to anti-static and lubricating compositions forthe treatment of regenerated cellulose and cellulose organic derivativefilaments, fibers, yarns, threads and the like, and more particularly toa method of eliminating the tendency of such lubricated and softenedmaterials to accumulate charges of static electricity during warping,weaving, knitting, and other textile operations. tile materials whichhave been treated by applying to them an anti-static and lubricatingagent which agent is self-emulsifiable and is easily removed, when sodesired.

As is well known in the industry, regenerated cellulose, such asviscose, and cellulose organic derivative materials, such as celluloseacetate, and other synthetic materials, such as polyamide, vinyl,acrylonitrile, and the like, particularly when in filament, yarn,thread, or similar form, are subject to the accumulation of staticelectricity from frictional and other abrasive or rubbing influences,whereby handling of such materials is rendered extremely difficult.

This is particularly aggravated in the preparation of cut staple fiberssuch as, for example, in the making of spun yarn, inasmuch asconsiderable friction is developed during carding and combing operationsand, as a result, suflicient charges accumulate on the fibers to makethem stick to the machinery and to resist adherence to each other tomake the formation of a sliver, Web or blanket diiiicult, if notimpossible. Furthermore, even if -a web or blanket could be formed withsome degree of success, subsequent drafting operations would produce avery uneven and undesirable intermediate roving or spun yarn, due to thepresence of the static charge. In addition, there is, of course, theundesirable and ever-present fire hazard due to the possibility ofelectrical discharges upon accumulation of sufiicient staticelectricity.

Additionally, it is required that these fibrous and filamentarymaterials be treated in order to reduce their tendency toward breakageof the individual fibers and filaments when they are subjected tovarious mechanical strains and distortions during processing.Furthermore, it is desirable to lubricate or soften the yarn to make itmore supple to facilitate handling during such operations as spinning,twisting, drafting, drawing, winding and reeling, as Well as the laterfabricating operations of weaving, knitting, braiding, and the like.

Anti-static and lubricating compositions have been proposed in the pastand have been used with considerable success in lubricating the yarnsand in preventing the 'accumulation of static charges. However, a largenumber of these anti-static and lubricating agents are not sufiicientlysoluble or dispersible in the textile carrying-oil or other agent and assuch have presented problems in the initial application of the improvingagents. Additionally, many of these agents do not possess sufficientself-emulsification properties, whereby problems have been presented inthe preparation of the anti-static and lubricating compositions.

The invention also relates particularly to tex- 2,733,324 Patented Mar.13, 1956 Other improving agents used hitherto have lacked scourabilitycharacteristics in that they have not been capable of being readilyremoved from the textile materials by soaping or the like. Furthermore,in some cases, these conditioning agents have been found to lackcompatibility with various warp sizes. Other drawbacks have included:corrosiveness to metals; lack of softening and lubricating properties;difliculties encountered in low and high temperature storage; tendenciesto scum on atmospheric exposure; and the creation of yellowing eifectson extended exposure to the atmosphere at normal temperatures andhumidities.

This invention has as its principal object the provision of an improvedanti-static and lubricating composition to be used in the treatment orconditioning of textile fibers, filaments and yarns to reduce oreliminate completely the tendency of such materials to accumulatecharges of electricity due to frictional and other influences.

A further principal object of the invention is to provide a method offacilitating the handling of regenerated cellulose and cellulose organicderivative cut staple fibers during the various operations involved inthe production of spun yarns and fabricated textile materials.

A still further principal object of the present invention is to providea textile anti-static agent which will effectively lubricate and softenthe filamentary materials and which will possess sufficientself-emulsification properties.

Other principal objects of the present invention include the provisionof an anti-static and lubricating composition which is capable of beingreadily removed from the textile materials by soaping or scouring; whichpossesses compatibility with a wide range of warp sizes; which is notcorrosive to metals; which will not scum" on atmospheric exposure; whichmay be satisfactorily stored at low and high temperatures; and whichdoes not develop any yellowing efifects in the textile on extendedexposure to the atmosphere.

These objects are accomplished in the following invention by applying tothe filamentary material an im proving composition containing dodecyltoluene sodium sulfonate; a member of the group consisting of anammonium and/or sodium salt of a branched-chain dioctyl sodiumsulfosuccinate; an ammonium and/ or sodium salt of a branched-chaindinonyl sulfosuccinate; and an armmonium and/or sodium salt of abranched-chain didecyl sulfosuccinate, or mixture thereof; and a lowviscosity textile carrying-oil or -agent. v

When these conditioning agents are employed individually in the textilecarrying-oil and applied to the filamentary materials, the resultsinsofar as lubriaction, softening, antistatic properties andself-emulsification characteristics are quite different in kind as wellas degree than when two or more of the compounds are used collectively.For example, two separate textile carrying-oil compositions wereprepared, one containing 15% by weight of the ammonium salt of abranched-chain dioctyl sulfosuccinate and the other containing 15% byweight of the sodium salt. Both compositions were found unsatisfactoryand did not possess any self-emulsification characteristics. Two othertextile carrying-oil compositions were prepared, one containing 15 byweight of the sodium salt of a branched-chain dinonyl sulfosuccinate andthe other containing the ammonium salt of a branched-chain dibutylsulfosuccinate. These compositions were also found unsatisfactory anddid not possess sufiicient self-emulsification characteristics.

Similarly, textile carrying oil compositions containing as the soleadditive the n-decyl diester; or the n-nonyl diester; of the n-octyldiester; of the n-butyl diester, in ranges from 10% to 15% by weight,were also found unsatisfactory and were lacking in storage stability,selfemulsification characteristics, etc.

However, when these agents were used in the presence of dodecyl toluenesodium sulfonate, the results were considerably different. For example,when approximately 7.5-45% by Weight of dodecyl toluene sodium sulfonatewas added to various textile carrying oil compositions containing thebranched-chain dinonyl esters or the branched-chain didecyl esters, orthe branched-chain dioctyl esters, the improvement was marked and thecompositions were found satisfactory in all respects. The straight-chaindiesters, however, did not respond to such treatment and were stillconsidered unsuitable for the purposes of this invention. From this, itmay be reasonably deduced that the straight chain alkyl sulfosuccinatesare unsatisfactory and that the branched-chain alkyl sulfosuccinates areacceptable. Without being bound to any particular theory or reasonstherefore, it may be stated that the more branched the chain is, themore satisfactory are the agents intended to be covered by thisinvention. In this specification, therefore, unless specificallyindicated otherwise, all the alkyl radicals attached to thesulfosuccinate nucleus are of the branched-chain type.

In accordance with our invention, these lubricating and anti-staticcompositions may be applied to the filamentary material in anyconvenient fashion, such as, for example, by a roller applicator,spraying, bath-dipping, or the like. It is preferable that these agentsbe applied either in dissolved or dispersed form in the textile carryingoil or similar agent, such as light mineral oil, blown or unblown,drying and semi-drying, vegetable and animal oils, examples of which areolive oil, cottonseed oil, castor oil, neatsfoot oil, sperm oil, peanutoil, rice oil, and other similar oils. If the compositions resultingfrom such a compounding, however, form materials which are too viscousfor facile handling, then various low viscosity thinners or modifiersmay be used. Such thinners and modifiers would comprise any, agentcapable of reducing the viscosity of the composition down toapproximately 100 SUS/100 F. or less. Specific examples of such agentswould include pine oil, ethyl lactate, diethyl maleate, tributylaconitate, etc. As used herein therefore, the term low viscosity textilecarrying-agent is intended to cover such agents within theabove-mentioned Saybolt-second range and would cover the above-mentionedoils, per se, if they met such requirements or could be modified orthinned to a viscosity to meet the requirement.

The composite lubricating and anti-static agents of the presentinvention are blended with the above-mentioned textile carrying oils inproportions as low as 15.0% by weight (7.5% by weight of each) and up toas high concentrations as possible depending on the solubility of theparticular agents in the particular oil or carrying agent. In theinterests of economy and availability, however, proportions in the rangefrom about by weight to about by Weight of the composite agent have beenfound very satisfactory, with the upper limits being raised to about ormore by weight where particular circumstances or requirements warrantsuch values.

In the event that more than two of the lubricating and anti-staticagents are compounded in the carrying agent, the amounts of each may beproportionately lowered, if desired, with the total percentage by weightbeing at least 15 The alkyl toluene sulfonates are used in theirsaltfree form inasmuch as the presence of such salts would generallyinterfere with the solubility characteristics of the sulfonates in themineral oil or other carrying-agents. For example, dodecyltoluene sodiumsulfonate, prepared from dodecyltoluene using 20% oleum, was freed fromits approximately salt content by alcoholic extraction and used in suchform in the lubricating and anti-state composition.

The invention will be further described in greater detail by thefollowing specific examples. It should be understood, however, thatalthough these examples may set forth in particular detail some of themore specific features of the invention, they are given primarily forpurposes of illustration and the invention in its broader aspects is notto be construed as limited thereto.

Example I An anti-static agent was made up as follows:

Percent Dodecyl toluene sodium sulfonate 7.5 Ammonium Salt of didecylsulfosuccinate 7.5

Light mineral oil 35.0

and applied to textile filamentary materials such as viscose andcellulose acetate rayon fibers and filaments and softened and lubricatedsuch materials considerably. The accumulation of static electricity wasconsiderably reduced and the fibers and filaments showed substantiallyno tendency to stick to the machinery during carding and combing or toresist adherence to each other during the subsequent preparation of asliver, web or blanket. As a consequence, lower temperatures and lowerhumidities were employed during such operations as well as duringweaving, knitting, braiding, and other fabricating operations.

The agent Was self-emulsifiable in the textile carrying oils andfurthermore, could be easily removed by soaping or scouring. It was notcorrosive to metals. The agent was found to be compatible with a widerange of various warp sizes, including gelatin, sulfonated oils, and thelike. The compositions were stored at 0 C. and did not deteriorate andwere found satisfactory. Substantially no permanent yellowing wasobserved in materials treated with the anti-static composition afterexposure to the atmosphere at 70 F. and relative humidity for severalWeeks.

Example 2 An anti-static agent was prepared as follows:

Percent Dodecyl toluene sodium sulfonate 15 Sodium salt of didecylsulfosuccinate 10 Light mineral oil Pine oil 5 and applied to textilefilamentary materials with results as described in Example 1.

Other anti-static agents were prepared as follows:

Sodium salt of dioctyl sulfosuccinate 12 Cottonseed oil 65 Tributylaconitate 7 The amount of the anti-static and lubricating agent to beapplied to the fibrous or filamentary material will depend on manyfactors, such as, the physical characteristics of the material itselfand its tendency toward electrification and its lubricationrequirements, as well as upon the nature, availability and cost of theagent itself, all taken in view of the particular situation. Althoughimproved results have been obtained from the use of as little as 1% orless as based on the weight of the pick-up material, and as much as 25%or more have been placed on the material, the preferred ranges ofpick-up for the purposes of this invention lie between 2% and 7% asbased on the weight of the treated material.

Although I have described several specific examples of my inventiveconcept, I consider the same not to be limited thereby nor to thespecific substances mentioned therein but to include various othercompounds of equivalent constitution as set forth in the claims appendedhereto. It is understood that any suitable changes, modifications andvariations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. A method of treating yarns, filaments and fibers to render them moreamenable to textile operations and to eliminate their tendency toaccumulate charges of static electricity which comprises applying tothem a composition containing from about 7.5% to about 15% by weight ofdodecyl toluene sodium sulfonate; from about 7.5% to about 15 by weightof a member of the group consisting of the sodium salt of abranched-chain didecyl sulfosuccinate, the ammonium salt of abranched-chain didecyl sulfosuccinate, the ammonium salt of abranched-chain dioctyl sulfosuccinate, the sodium salt of abranchedchain dioctyl sulfosuccinate, the ammonium salt of abranched-chain dinonyl sulfosuccinate and the sodium salt of abranched-chain dinonyl sulfosuccinate or mixtures thereof; and fromabout 70% to about 85% by weight of a low viscosity textilecarrying-agent.

2. An anti-static and lubricating agent for treating yarns, filamentsand fibers to render them more amenable to textile operations and toeliminate their tendency to accumulate charges of static electricitycomprising from about 7.5% to about 15% by weight of dodecyl toluenesodium sulfonate; from about 7.5% to about 15% by weight of a member ofthe group consisting of the sodium salt of a branched-chain didecylsulfosuccinate, the ammonium salt of a branched-chain didecylsulfosuccinate, the ammonium salt of a branched-chain dioctylsulfosuccinate, thesodium salt of a branched-chain dioctylsulfosuccinate, the ammonium salt of a branched-chain dinonylsulfosuccinate, and the sodium salt of a branchedchain dinonylsulfosuccinate or mixtures thereof; and from about 70% to about 85% byweight of a low viscosity textile carrying-agent.

3. Textile filamentary material having a greater amenability to textileoperations and a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of staticelectricity and having applied thereto a composition comprising fromabout 7.5% to about 15% by weight of dodecyl toluene sodium sulfonate,from about 7.5% to about 15% by weight of a References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Daimler et al. June 4, 1929 JaegerJan. 14, 1936

2. AN ANTI-STATIC AND LUBRICATING AGENT FOR TREATING YARNS, FILAMENTSAND FIBERS TO RENDER THEM MORE AMENABLE TO TEXTILE OPERATIONS AND TOELIMINATE THEIR TENDENCY TO ACCUMULATE CHARGES OF STATIC ELECTRICITYCOMPRISING FROM ABOUT 7.5% TO ABOUT 15% BY WEIGHT OF DODECYL TOLUENESODIUM SULFONATE; FROM ABOUT 7.5% TO ABOUT 15% BY WEIGHT OF A MEMBER OFTHE GROUP CONSISTING OF THE SODIUM SALT OF A BRANCHED-CHAIN DIDECYLSULFOSUCCINATE, THE AMMONIUM SALT OF A BRANCHED-CHAIN DIDECYLSULFOSCUCCINATE, THE AMMONIUM SALT OF A BRANCHED-CHAIN DIOCTYLSULFOSUCCINATE, THE SODIUM SALT OF A BRANCHED-CHAIN DIOCTYLSULFOSUCCINATE, THE AMMONIUM SALT OF A BRANCHED-CHAIN DINONYLSULFOSUCCINATE, AND THE SODIUM SALT OF A BRANCHEDCHAIN DINONYLSULFOSCUCCINATE OR MIXTURES THEREOF; AND FROM ABOUT 70% TO ABOUT 85% BYWEIGHT OF A LOW VISCOSITY TEXTILE CARRYING-AGENT.